The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-05-05
TWO AT ONCE.
The Strange Story Told by q
Federal Corporal.
A Gun That Was Discharged by Falling
Kills Two Men in Ambush.

A Gun That Was Discharged by Falling
Kills Two Men in Ambush.
On the night before Gen. Blunt at
tackled Marmadukc at Cape Hill, Ark,
and after-a days march of twenty-scven
miles, the company in which l was then
a private, says Corporal Jackson" in
the Detroit Free Press, was placed on
outpost duty. We were within three or
four miles of Crane Hill and as far as VIC
knew had not yet been discovered by
the enemy. Marmadukc had strong
body of cavalry under; him, and his force
was in advance of body Of 20, 900 infan.
try under Gen. Hindman. Hindman
was yet two days away when we came
up, it being Blunt's plan to fall upon
Marmadukc before he could receive
supports.
When we came to be stationed for the
night two men were allowed each
oiftpost, and spot where comradc
md myself were stationed was-alongside
the highway leading to Crane Hill, and
from half to three quarters of mile
from our camp. There was heavy re-
serve picket quarter of mile behind
us, but as soon as we had been left alone
and night had settled down we discov-
cred that we had very lonely position.
It was at bend of tho road, and just
here was q creek and morass, while
the forest about us was dense and
gloomy. It seemed as if every living
thing known to night had come to give
us serenade. A big owl took position
in the tree above our heads and kept up
his dismal boots for an hour, while
whippoorwills, frogs and various insects
added their notes.
| My comrade was burly big German,
having little sentiment and no fear about
him, and being tired of the long march
he soon began to browse. l pitched
into him tooth and toenail when caught
him asleep, for nothing was surer than
the knowledge that Marmaduke would
send scouts and spies along our front
and into our camp if he knew of our
presence. The man reused up for awhile,
but by and by sleep overcame him again,
and he sat down with his back to tree
and made no further attempt to keep
awake. When Ifound that no argument
of mine would keep his eyes open, my
only recourse was to keep double watch,
and so made sure that the relief did not
find him asleep when it cameup. was
so thoroughly tired out that l could not
have slept even in camp.
After the first hour had passed away
and l had become accustomed to the
noises and the loneliness, there was
nothing 50 very disagrceable in the situ-
alton. My comrade had gradually fallen
over, until at last he yas fiat on the
ground. I sat with my back to the tree,
facing the bend in the road and the
bridge, and, though the night was
without moon, l could have easily de.
tected anyone seeking to cross the stream
by the highway. An hour and half
had passed when the silence was broken
by stifled cry. 1t acted on me like an
electric shock, and ! sprang up, with my
heart in my mouth. ! could not tell
from which direction it came, and as there
had been only one cry, soon made
myself believe. that'it had been uttered by
some bird or animal. Nevertheless, my
nerves were all on edge, and tho loneli-
ness grew SO oppressive. that l deter.
mined to arouse my comrade. As
moved over to him for this purpose my
foot struck. his musket, which wa
} leaning against the :rec, and it fel
J down and was discharged. The SHARP
report was followed by an "Ohl ohr
: close at hand, and tho sleeper at my
feet was awake anil on his feet in five
, seconds. We stood there, looking thi
J way and that, and listening as onl.
men can when peril. menaces, until tn
!, Corporars guard came trotting up t
: ascertain the cause of the firing.
Then what do you suppose we dis
coveredg Not over twenty feet from tn
tree, in the woods by the roadside, la
$ the bodies of.tw of the toughest look
! ing bushwhackers one ever saw. On
, was right behind the other, and tn
$ ounce ball from the muskct ha'
knocked down had passed throug
both their bodies just below tn
S breast boie:'- Each had bowie-knife
D and each knife was stained with iresl
l blood, and when we investigated fur
g ther we found that both men on th
o outpost to our right had been assassi
t nated-each. being stabbed in three 0
: four places. You may call it Provi
dence, accident, or whatever you will
lam only giving you the facts in tn
case, and facts that can be substantiate
by scores of men still living.